About Chippewa
Cree Tribal TANF
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF policies emphasize work, promote responsibility and set limits while maintaining the Family Self-Sufficiency Plan for needy TANF Program families. All temporary assistance families must participate in self-sufficiency planning, and able-bodied adults must participate in work activities.
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Contact a local CCT TANF field office for questions.
About TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program emerged from a 1996 law that gave federally recognized Indian tribes the option to direct their own TANF programs better to serve the individually specific needs of Tribal members. Eligible tribes receive federal funding through a tribal block grant called a Tribal Family Assistance Grant. Like the states, the Tribe can use these funds for a broad range of activities related to promoting the four purposes of TANF specified in federal law:
- assisting families in need so children can be cared for in their own homes or relatives’ homes,
- reducing the dependency of parents in need by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage.
- preventing pregnancies among unmarried persons, and
- encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.
Who is Eligible for TANF?
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF program will serve all needy families in Hill County, Montana, that portion of Choteau County, Montana, within the exterior boundaries of the Tribe’s reservation, in which persons apply for temporary assistance and services include at least on person that tis enrolled in a federally recognized tribe.
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF plan defines needy families as families with total family income equal or less (after disregards) than the Tribal benefit level for cash assistance see page 18 of the plan. Some supportive services may not require income eligibility for service, i.e., teen pregnancy prevention and marriage promotion.
Needy families must meet the following:
- At least one person (child or caretaker relative who is within the fifth degree of kinship excluding stepparents) who is enrolled or enrollable in a federally recognized tribe who is living with a caretaker relative.
- A woman pregnant with an Indian child in her third trimester or a verifiable high-risk pregnancy.
- All school-age children are required to attend school full-time with regular attendance; verification of enrollment and current status is required.
- Minor parent must be living in a home with parents or a TANF approved
- responsible adult.
- A dependent child that is still in high school will be eligible until graduation or their 19th birthday.
Needy Indian Families Moving into the Covered Service Area
Needy Indian families moving into the Chippewa Cree TANF service area will receive the same amount of cash assistance as all other applicants currently within the Chippewa Cree service area.
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF Program will provide self-sufficiency goals to needy families with measurable goals with referrals to the chemical dependency center for counseling and treatment services; driver’s license classes, HiSet/GED classes. The numbers of clients achieving goals will measure the referrals to each department according to 45 CFR 286.75(a) (5).
New Tribal TANF applicants complete an Individual Improvement Plan with measurable goals and a timeline with the case manager. The IIP timeline is reviewed for continued Tribal TANF eligibility and successful progress each month.
Assistance & Supportive Services:
The Tribal TANF program may provide limited monthly cash assistance for shelter, food, utilities, clothing, and other basic needs. Needy Indian families will be eligible for assistance under the 150% of the poverty line. Cash Assistance and other assistance shall be provided as follows:
- Cash Assistance or assistance through a voucher system
- Educational activities designed to increase self-sufficiency, job training and work, excluding any expenditure for public or no cost education or training.
- Required work activities expenditures with no other funding source.
- Tribal TANF will provide to recipients all justified job related or educational costs when cooperating with TANF work participation including but limited to the following: books, uniforms, tuition, educational supplies, childcare, clothing allowance, transportation expenses and any other related cost. AND excluding those costs normally covered by the educational system.
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF program may provide the following services. This list is not all-inclusive and individual families may receive certain services called for in their individual’s work/training plan as approved by the TANF case manager and as funding permits.
Supportive Services may be offered by the Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF Program as funding permits. Supportive Services often make the difference between continued unemployment and the participant’s ability to gain employment. The need for supportive services must be specific, identified in the Individual Improvement Plan, directly related to an approved activity or employment opportunity, stated as an emergency or nonemergency and other resources are exhausted. Supportive Service payments are not automatic or an entitlement and must assist the family in achieving self-sufficiency. Clients will be eligible automatically for supportive services.
Fraud & Appeals Process:
Fraud is an intentional action, inaction, making false statements, suppressing facts, or giving information that misrepresents true circumstances for the purposes of obtaining benefits to which he or she is not entitled. These actions are the basis for Intentional Program Violations (IPV).
All temporary assistance applicants and recipients must be informed in writing of the disqualification penalties for fraud and intentional program violations at the time of the initial interview. This information is provided in writing.
Those individuals who do commit fraud to collect benefits will be denied benefits/services for a period of one year. An individual accused of fraud or intentional program violation has the right to appeal.
The Chippewa Cree Tribal TANF plan defines needy families as families with total family income equal or less (after disregards) than the Tribal benefit level for cash assistance see page 18 of the plan. Some supportive services may not require income eligibility for service, i.e., teen pregnancy prevention and marriage promotion.
Needy families must meet the following:
The following appeal process shall apply to all Tribal TANF recipients/applicants.
Applicants
During the application process, an applicant will be advised of their right to appeal the denial of their application or any adverse action affecting their assistance benefits and support services. The applicant will not be granted TANF benefits during the appeal. If the appeal decision is granted to the applicant, cash assistance or other benefits shall be pro-rated back to date of the completed application was submitted to the Case Manager.
Recipients
The Tribal TANF program will provide TANF recipients at risk of losing/changing benefits adequate notice before said actions begins. Prior to implementation of said action, recipient shall be advised of their right to appeal a decision to sanction, deny, reduce, terminate or family placement on the voucher system or protective payee status.
All appeals must be in writing and submitted to the case manager. The case manager will review the appeal, decide and notify the applicant/recipient in writing within 10 days.
The applicant/recipient may further appeal the decision to the TANF Director within 10 days after receiving the decision of the case manager. The TANF Director will review; decide within 10 days after receiving the appeal. The TANF Director must respond to the appeal within 10 days in writing.
The recipient/applicant may appeal the Tribal TANF Director’s decision to the Appeal Board of Program Directors. The Appeal Board will review within 10 days after receiving the decision of the Tribal TANF Director. The Appeal Board’s decision will be final.
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